Proposed Consolidation of Conservation Authorities

On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), the Hon. Todd McCarthy, announced the Province’s next step in its plan to reform Ontario’s conservation authority system. The announcement confirms the government’s intention to consolidate the province’s current 36 conservation authorities into nine regional conservation authorities.

Under this updated proposal, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) would become part of an Eastern Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority that includes the Long Point, Catfish Creek, and Kettle Creek conservation authorities. This reflects a change from the original proposal and aligns with the request made by the GRCA Board of Directors reflected in the GRCA’s official comments on Environmental Registry Posting 025-1257: Proposed boundaries for the regional consolidation of Ontario’s conservation authorities.

The Province has indicated it intends to introduce amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act in the coming weeks to enable this transition. If approved, the consolidation would be coordinated by the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA), with a target implementation timeline of early 2027.

The Minister has reiterated the vital role conservation authorities play in protecting people from floods and natural hazards, managing watersheds, and providing public access to natural spaces. These responsibilities remain at the core of the GRCA’s mission.

The GRCA remains committed to working collaboratively with its municipal partners, the Province, and the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, while maintaining its focus on protecting people and property from floods and other natural hazards, improving the health of the Grand River watershed, and connecting people with the environment.

The Province has indicated that the proposed regional conservation authorities would continue to provide the same programs and services as they do currently. At this time, there are no direct implications for the GRCA’s current programs or services. The GRCA will continue to review provincial information as it becomes available, and we will provide updates on this webpage. A preliminary report will be included in the March 27, 2026, GRCA Board Meeting agenda.

Background Information

On October 31, 2025, Ontario announced its intent to modernize conservation authorities, including the introduction of Bill 68 to create the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA), a new provincial body intended to strengthen coordination and oversight. On November 7, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) posted a proposal on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) seeking feedback on proposed boundaries and criteria to consolidate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into seven regional conservation authorities, organized primarily along watershed boundaries. The posting contained five consultation questions relating to the transition into regional conservation authorities, governance considerations, and approaches to ensure strong relationships with municipalities and communities within the new structure. The GRCA Board of Directors submitted official comments to the Province as part of the process.

In the official comments, the GRCA Board recognized the value in modernizing the current system and supports efforts to enhance consistency, improve permitting, modernize technical standards, and strengthen coordination across Ontario. The GRCA identified several critical considerations to support a successful transition related to:

• the scale of the proposed regional model;
• the protection of local knowledge, assets, and investments; and
• governance, accountability, and municipal representation.